Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale knew he was going to get Brad Ziegler some action in the season finale, no matter the game situation. Ziegler hadn’t pitched in a week after flying home to Kansas City for the birth of his daughter.

But it didn’t become apparent until late in the game that Ziegler would be entrusted with the final two innings. Ziegler worked around three singles for his first six-out save since 2009, when he was with the Oakland Athletics.

“I didn’t think it’d be two full,” Ziegler said. “I thought it’d be a one-plus, like come in and get the last out (of the eighth) and then pitch the ninth or something.”

Hale initially considered using right-hander Daniel Hudson for part of the eighth, but decided Ziegler “had the most bullets left” after Hudson gave up a run on a wild pitch in the seventh.

Ziegler worked around a two-out single in the eighth, and then rebounded from putting the first two on in the ninth by coaxing a double-play ball out of Houston Astros outfielder George Springer before getting a groundout from shortstop Carlos Correa.

The save was Ziegler’s 30th of the season and his 28th in a row, tying a franchise record.

“It’s a nice round number,” he said. “I was excited when I got to 29 just because that was my jersey number.”

Ziegler finished with 68 innings and a 1.85 ERA, his best full-season mark with the Diamondbacks. The team holds a $5.5 million option on him for 2016 that seems like a no-brainer to exercise, but the 35-year-old isn’t taking anything for granted.

“Hopefully my option gets picked up, but if not I’ll move on,” he said. “I’m not concerned about the long-term future. I feel like I’ve had a good season, and hopefully they feel that way too.”

The Astros bullpen is full of faces that should be familiar to Diamondbacks fans. Five Houston relievers – Chad Qualls, Will Harris, Tony Sipp, Joe Thatcher and Oliver Perez – spent time with Arizona in recent years. That quintet has combined to post a 2.92 ERA in nearly 210 innings for Houston this year.

The standout of the group was Harris, who had a 1.90 ERA and 13 holds in 71 innings. Harris had a 3.42 ERA in parts of the past two seasons in Arizona, but was waived to create room on the 40-man roster after the 2014 season.

“With a team that’s not really winning, a lot of times there’s some turnover in that area,” Harris said. “I wasn’t super-duper surprised, I guess. I was a little disappointed when it happened, but I got picked up by a great organization with a good group of guys and it worked out well for me.”

Harris feels his performance in 2014 was better than his numbers suggested, but also wasn’t surprised the Diamondbacks didn’t try to get some value back for him by trading him.

“You don’t see middle relievers getting traded too often in baseball,” he said. “I don’t think it was anything out of the ordinary. Maybe the success I’m having here raised a few eyebrows.”

The Diamondbacks projected a small increase in their attendance relative to last season, and that’s exactly how it played out. Arizona drew 2,080,139 fans to Chase Field this year, beating last year’s mark by 6,049.

The Diamondbacks averaged 25,681 fans per game this season, which would have ranked 23rd in the majors entering Sunday.

Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray sighs before getting taken out of the game the fifth inning against the Astros on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the game, 5-3. Sean Logan/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt rounds third base after hitting a homerun in the seventh inning against the Astros on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the game, 5-3. Sean Logan/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks infielder Paul Goldschmidt celebrates with A.J. Pollock after hitting a homerun in the seventh inning against the Astros on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015 in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won the game, 5-3. Sean Logan/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt watches the flight of the ball as he hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Houston Astros pitcher Chad Qualls kicks at the dirt after giving up a two-run home run to Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Houston Astros's George Springer crosses the plate to score the game tying run on a wild pitch by Arizona Diamondbacks' Daniel Hudson during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Houston Astros's George Springer slides awkwardly into second after hitting a double as Arizona Diamondbacks' Aaron Hill applies a late tag during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso, AP

Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Pollock is congratulated by third base Andy Green after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Phoenix. Ralph Freso/AP

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez gives the ball to manager Chip Hale after hitting two batters in the 8th inning of a MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on October 3, 2015. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez throws the ball to first outing Houston Astros first baseman Chris Carter during the 8th inning of a MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on October 3, 2015. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Houston Astros Jose Altuve reacts after bing hit by a Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher David Hernandez during the 8th inning of a MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on October 3, 2015. Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports

Houston Astros right fielder George Springer leads off of first base as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt covers the bag during the third inning at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

Diamondbacks outfielder Socrates Brito can't make the catch against the Astros during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Astros George Springer smiles after high-fiving teammate Jason Castro after Springer scored a run against the Diamondbacks during the seventh inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Astros hitting coach Dave Hudgens high fives the Astros' Colby Rasmus after he hit a two run home run in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Astros' Luis Valbuena celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Astros' Luis Valbuena celebrates with teammate Colby Rasmus in the dugout after Valbuena hit a solo home run in the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. Rasmus hit a two run home run the previous at bat. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks third baseman Aaron Hill splashes water on his face in the dugout before the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks second baseman Phil Gosselin fields a ground ball as the Astros' Chris Carter runs to second during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt talks to Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa during the first inning of the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa wipes his face in the dugout after giving up three runs in the first inning against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks slugger Paul Gildschmidt reacts after striking out in the first inning of the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings fields a ground ball against the Astros during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks pitching coach Mike Harkey walks to the mound to talk to Diamondbacks pitcher Rubby De La Rosa during the third inning of the MLB game against the Astros at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Diamondbacks' Jame Romak slides back to second after Astros second baseman Jose Altuve tags him out at second during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

The Diamondbacks Paul Goldschmidt is tagged out by Astros catcher Jason Castro at home during the third inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo attempts to tag out the Astros' George Springer at home during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. Springer was safe. David Wallace/azcentral sports

Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo attempts to tag out the Astros' Colby Rasmus at home during the second inning of the MLB game at Chase Field in Phoenix on Friday, October 2, 2015. Rasmus was safe. David Wallace/azcentral sports